Mixed in 1980

Chapter 292 The British Compromise

Negotiations at Kwai Chung Port have been consistently unsuccessful.

Chen Fan disliked the British, and the British disliked Chen Fan; the two sides couldn't stand each other, so business naturally wouldn't go smoothly.

Chen Fan had previously given the order: a fixed price of HK$27 billion!
If it works out, great; if not, oh well!
Yu Jing did the same. After revealing the bottom price to HSBC's Shen Daban, she basically stopped paying attention to the acquisition and turned her attention to ports in Southeast Asia.

“A few days ago, Ms. Shen called and said that they were willing to lower the price to HK$29 billion, but I refused directly and insisted on HK$27 billion.”

"Then let's just drag it out!" Chen Fan said.

Yu Jing thought for a moment and then said, "President Chen, there are currently no ports for sale in Southeast Asia, and there shouldn't be any sellers in the short term."

"Don't rush. The economy is good now and shipping is developed, so it's normal that people are unwilling to sell. But the economy can't stay good forever, and sooner or later someone will sell."

Chen Fan hadn't held out much hope for this matter to begin with.

It's just for show, for the British.

Currently, the majority of port investment is in mainland China, with $50 billion already invested in six major ports: Yantian Port, Shanghai Port, Tianjin Port, Ningbo Port, Lianyun Port, and Huizhou Port.

Construction began in 1985, and it has been almost four years.

The first phase of the project has been completed, and the second phase has begun. It has already generated profits, but the profits are not yet high.

After careful consideration, Chen Fan realized that his investments in highways, Yangzi Ethylene, Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, and ports in mainland China had all begun to generate profits.

The only thing missing is the Ertan Hydropower Station.

This is a huge project that will take eight or nine years. The initial $50 billion investment means the money will be frozen for eight or nine years and will not generate any returns during that time.

This is something that capital is unwilling to do.

Many Hong Kong tycoons only started investing on a large scale in the mainland after the 90s. Very few, like Hu Yingxiang, went back in the 80s to develop infrastructure.

The same amount of money would have yielded higher returns if invested in other projects, especially in Hong Kong in the 1980s, where investments in real estate and the stock market resulted in extremely rapid asset growth.

After chatting about the port for a while, Chen Fan brought the topic back to Sanli Shipping Group: "After the acquisition, place an order with Yangzijiang Shipbuilding to order several large ships."

Yu Jing joked, "Why let the good stuff go to outsiders?"

"Of course. Instead of using money to help other companies grow, it's better to give it to our own company. Yangzi Shipbuilding has been developing very rapidly in recent years."

Yu Jing strongly agreed with this.

After the establishment of Yangzijiang Shipbuilding, with the investment from Chen Fan, the mainland also concentrated a lot of resources to develop vigorously, and it is now able to produce container ships of 2700 TEU.

2700 TEU means it can hold 2700 standard containers, which is approximately 5.1 tons.

There is still a considerable gap between our technology and that of Japan and South Korea, but it is sufficient for our use. The key is that the cost of building them in mainland China is cheaper. The price of one container ship ordered from abroad can buy four in mainland China for the same tonnage.

The figure of 2700 TEU is only a temporary figure. The shipbuilding industry in mainland China is developing rapidly and has already begun to design and research container ships with a capacity of 4000 TEU.

Chen Fan was well aware that the future of shipbuilding would be determined by China, which could build 24000 TEU container ships with shorter construction times and lower prices.

The shipbuilding industries of Japan and South Korea will inevitably be crushed!

Many people don't see it now, but when Li Hongying was invited to invest together, she chose to invest in highways and Yangzi ethylene, and was not interested in shipbuilding.

It's clear to anyone with eyes to see that for a long time to come, the shipbuilding industry will be dominated by Japan and South Korea, and it's hard to imagine that mainland China will be able to overtake them.

After having lunch at the company, Chen Fan called Ma Xifeng and asked him to come over in the afternoon.

Ma Xifeng is currently riding high on success.

One of the rotating presidents of Xinghuo Real Estate, he manages 36 plots of land, and with the soaring real estate market, his status in the business district has also risen accordingly.

After the Chinese New Year, the real estate market saw another surge in prices.

Based on the current trend, in two years, there is a high probability that housing prices will surge to 3000-4000 per square foot, which would amount to 30,000 to 40,000 Hong Kong dollars per square meter.

If Xinghuo Real Estate were to go public, it would immediately become the most valuable company in Hong Kong. However, Mr. Chen has no interest in going public.

The company doesn't buy land, doesn't lack land, and doesn't lack money, so why go public?

"Our restriction agreement with China Construction only has one year left, right?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Xifeng hurriedly replied, "Yes, according to the agreement, we will continue to sell houses this year, but starting next year, we will reduce land development and hold back the sale of all buildings."

Chen Fan gently tapped the armrest: "In other words, starting next year, the business in Hong Kong will be scaled back, and the company's direction will also need to change."

"Mr. Chen, what do you mean?"

"We will start by entering the mainland market, beginning in Guangzhou. I talked to Mr. Hu Yingxiang about this a few days ago, and we plan to build a 500-meter-tall building in Guangzhou."

"500 meters, the world's tallest building?"

"That's exactly what I mean. I've already thought of a name for the building: Spark No. 1. Later, there will be Spark No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, each one taller than the last."

Upon hearing this, Ma Xifeng gasped in astonishment!

Mr. Chen must be very optimistic about the mainland economy to build such a tall building here. Isn't he afraid that he won't be able to recoup his costs?

Hong Kong has a developed economy, yet its tallest building is only 216 meters tall!
Instinctively, Ma Xifeng felt it was unreliable, but dared not show it in the slightest. He knew he couldn't change his boss's mind.

The boss's vision is something I can't match.

When the property market crashed and Hong Kong's future was uncertain, Chen Fan went on a land-grabbing spree. Everyone thought it was unreliable, but in the end, everyone envied him.

Chen Fan not only made a fortune in the real estate market, but also used it to his advantage to control the British, successfully acquiring companies in the port, telecommunications, power, and gas sectors. "Later, send the land information for Guangzhou to Mr. Hu. If Mr. Hu is willing to jointly develop it, then you can start negotiations."

“Yes, Mr. Chen!” Ma Xifeng replied.

Once the matter was settled, it was handed over to Ma Xifeng, while Chen Fan stayed at the company to handle some affairs. Two days later, good news came from Yu Jing.

The deal has been reached with Sanli!
The Yang family took two plots of land and some cash, while Hua Sanshao took one plot of land and some cash. The Sanli Shipping Group officially fell into Chen Fan's hands.

"Mr. Chen, it's a pleasure doing business with you!"

Hua Sanshao took out a cigarette and offered one to Chen Fan: "I'm having a private party at my villa in Repulse Bay tonight. Would you like to come and join us, Mr. Chen?"

Hua Sanshao's party must be very extravagant!
Celebrities and models are standard fare, and no man dislikes them, but Chen Fan believed one thing: if he dared to go, Zeng Ali would tear him apart.

Xu Jinqiu and Zhao Yuanyuan can both come over.

Helpless, he could only politely decline. Hua Sanshao didn't mind. In Hong Kong's business circles, everyone knew that Chen Fan didn't play these games; he had only attended one cocktail party.

"I'll organize a cocktail party in a few days and invite Mr. Chen to attend."

"I'll definitely be there!"

"That's a deal!"

Hua Sanshao acted immediately. Opportunities to invite Chen Fan were rare; he had only successfully invited him once in all of Hong Kong.

Being able to invite Chen Fan is a great honor!
In many industries such as ports, telecommunications, electricity, gas, real estate, and retail, Chen Fan either monopolizes or holds a dominant position, making his influence extremely formidable.

The most terrifying thing is his identity as a financial tycoon.

At the last cocktail party, a rumor circulated among high-level circles that Chen Fan had entered the Japanese stock market and, based on available information, had cashed out more than 150 billion US dollars.

Everyone worries about being targeted by such a financial tycoon, especially if he's particularly petty and might stab you in the back one day, leaving you penniless.

A few days ago, I invited Liu Jianxiong to a nightclub for drinks. Liu Jianxiong remarked, "Don't laugh at me, but I'm glad I backed down quickly, otherwise..."

Thinking of Liu Jianxiong, Hua Sanshao immediately picked up the phone and dialed: "Big Liu, you must come to the party tomorrow night. I've invited Mr. Chen."

"Mr. Chen? Chen Fan?"

"Yes!"

"He really gave you face. I invited him several times, but I never succeeded." Liu Jianxiong scratched his head, somewhat frustrated.

He has worked with Chen Fan before!

When I visited Chen Fan before, he said that after resolving the internal problems of Aimeigao, everyone could cooperate.

Chen Fan kept his word, and coincidentally, there was internal instability within Chinese Estates Holdings. The two sides hit it off and successfully acquired Chinese Estates Holdings.

Liu Jianxiong also became the largest shareholder.

Chen Fan also held a considerable number of shares, but he did not keep them. After driving up the stock price, he sold them all and cashed out.

"You never invite anyone decent!"

"Is that so?" Liu Jianxiong asked doubtfully.

I don't really play serious games. Life is too short to do anything interesting. The most exciting thing is financial warfare, followed by female celebrities.

Not only do they have to be beautiful, they also have to be famous!
Just like his current girlfriend, the most beautiful Miss Hong Kong, Li Xinxin, Liu Jianxiong quickly made a decision to bring Li Xinxin to this party.

Perhaps Chen Fan is getting the idea.

Once you've put your mind to it, inviting Chen Fan again will be easy. Men, once they share common interests, have many areas to collaborate on.

The day of the cocktail party is fast approaching!

Dressed in his finest attire, the most beautiful Miss Hong Kong, Lau Kin-hung arrived early at the Peninsula Hotel's banquet hall, where he soon saw Chan Fan arrive.

Besides Li Hongying, another woman came with Chen Fan, but it wasn't Zhao Yuanyuan!

Hmm... She's even prettier than Zhao Yuanyuan!
Like the most beautiful Miss Hong Kong around me, she is the type of beauty that is absolutely stunning, attracting everyone's attention as soon as she appears.

While Liu Jianxiong was surprised, he couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth. Men, after all, have the same hobbies. It's just that Chen Fan is more reserved and not so high-profile.

With the most beautiful Miss Hong Kong in tow, Lau Kin-hung went up to greet them: "Mr. Chan, Hung-ying, it's been a long time! And this lady, hello!"

"Big Liu, let me introduce you!"

Fearing that Liu Jianxiong would cause trouble again, Li Hongying spoke first: "Zeng Ali, the founder of Lululemon, you should have heard of her."

"I've not just heard of it, I've heard it like the thunder in my ears!"

Liu Jianxiong was surprised. Lululemon, a global brand, he never expected its founder to be so young and beautiful, and also someone close to Chen Fan.

Looking at the most beautiful Miss Hong Kong next to me, I suddenly feel that I am not worthy of being on the same stage.

They're not even in the same league!
After offering a few compliments, Liu Jianxiong wanted to invite Chen Fan to sit down for a while, but before he could finish speaking, a foreigner came over and said, "Mr. Chen, it's been a long time."

"Hello, Mr. Shen!"

The man who came was Shen Bi. After shaking hands, he said, "Mr. Chen, would it be convenient for us to talk for a few minutes about the Kwai Chung Port terminal?"

PS: Second update!
(End of this chapter)